Seoul best city for students in the world, Tokyo second; Mumbai among top 100 in QS rankings

Updated on: Jul 16, 2025 9:04 AM IST

By HT Education Desk

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Seoul tops QS Best Student Cities 2026, replacing London, with Tokyo second. Asian cities dominate top rankings. Mumbai leads Indian cities at 98th globally, excelling in affordability across Delhi, Bangalore, and Chennai.

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QS Best Student Cities 2026: Seoul is the best city for students in the world according to the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Best Student Cities 2026 rankings, the result of which was announced yesterday, July 15.

Seoul is the best city for students in the world as per QS (Unsplash/For representation)

The capital of South Korea has replaced London to grab the top spot. This time, QS has ranked London as the third-best student city in the world.

In second place is Japan's capital, Tokyo, which means the top two student cities, as per the latest rankings, are located in Asia.

Munich (Germany) and Australia's Melbourne complete the list of the world's top 5 student cities as per QS rankings.

Also read: QS Rankings: DU secures 30th spot globally in employment outcomes, retains overall rank at 328

Talking about India, Mumbai ranks as the best student city in India and 98th globally, followed by Delhi (global rank 104), Bangalore (global rank 108) and Chennai (128).

Among all the parameters used by the QS for this ranking, the Indian cities excel in affordability. Delhi has an impressive affordability rating of 96.5, followed by Mumbai (86.3), Bangalore (84.3) and Chennai (80.1).

Also read: QS Rankings By Subjects 2024: Top Indian institutes for Engg, Medical, Arts, Science

QS Best Student Cities 2026: Top 50 student cities in the world

Rank 1: Seoul

Rank 2: Tokyo

Rank 3:London

Rank 4: Munich

Rank 5: Melbourne

Rank 6: Sydney

Rank 7: Berlin, Paris

Rank 9: Zurich

Rank 10: Vienna

Rank 11: Singapore

Rank 12: Kuala Lumpur

Rank 13: Beijing

Rank 14: Taipei

Rank 15: Boston, Edinburgh

Rank 17: Hong Kong

Rank 18: Kyoto, Montreal

Rank 20: Amsterdam

Rank 21: Lausanne

Rank 22: Toronto

Rank 23: New York

Rank 24: Stockholm

Rank 25: Auckland

Rank 26: Brisbane

Rank 27: Shanghai

Rank 28: Madrid

Rank 29: Prague, Vancouver

Rank 31: Adelaide

Rank 32: Buenos Aires

Rank 33: Leuven

Rank 34: Copenhagen

Rank 35: Barcelona, Glasgow

Rank 37: Perth

Rank 38: Canberra, Dublin

Rank 40: Manchester

Rank 41: Newcastle Upon Tyne, San Francisco

Rank 43: Los Angeles

Rank 44: Milan

Rank 45: Coventry

Rank 46: Rome

Rank 47: Bristol, Chicago

Rank 49: Nottingham

Rank 50: Santiago.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT Education Desk
For over a decade, the Hindustan Times Digital Streams – Education Desk has been a trusted source for accurate, in-depth, and timely news on education and careers. We bring the latest updates on board exams, competitive exams, results, employment news, study abroad, scholarships, and school and college admissions, helping students, job seekers, and educators make informed decisions. Our Coverage Areas 1. Board Exams & Results: Comprehensive reporting on CBSE, CISCE, and state board exams (UP, Bihar, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and others), including schedules, admit cards, answer keys, results, and career opportunities. 2. Competitive Exams: Insights into major exams like UPSC, JEE, NEET, GATE, CAT, SAT, and state and central government services. Exam Results: Timely updates on UPSC, SSC, SBI, IBPS, NTA, IIMs, and other competitive exam results. 3. Employment News: Notifications on government and private sector jobs, vacancies, eligibility, application processes, and results. 4. Study Abroad: Information on top universities, courses, tuition fees, scholarships, visa regulations, and career prospects for international students. Features & Analysis: Opinion pieces, expert explainers, deep-dive reports, and interviews with key figures in education. 5. Breaking Education News: Real-time updates on major policy changes, institutional reforms, and trends shaping the education sector. 6. With a commitment to factual, unbiased journalism, HT Digital’s Education Desk has seen continuous growth in readership, offering credible and engaging content tailored for students, parents, and professionals. Meet the Team 1. Nilesh Mathur – News Editor A journalist with 24 years of experience, including 18+ years at Hindustan Times, Nilesh leads editorial planning, ensures factual accuracy, and enhances audience engagement through strategic content. 2. Papri Chanda – Deputy Chief Content Producer With over a decade of experience in education journalism, Papri specializes in exam-related content, study abroad insights, and education trends. She also explores new opportunities in education that benefit students. 3. Bishal – Senior Content Producer Active in the education and jobs sector since 2019, Bishal focuses on tracking developments, analyzing trends, and crafting informative content for students and job aspirants. 4. Gaurav Sarma – Deputy Chief Content Producer A multimedia journalist with 9+ years of experience, Gaurav is skilled in research-based storytelling, feature writing, and reporting on competitive exams, online courses, and education trends. At Hindustan Times Digital Streams – Education Desk, we strive to be the go-to platform for students and professionals navigating the dynamic world of education and careers.Read More

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